27 comments:

100 years ago tonight the crying and screaming in the northern Atlantic was a nightmare that still fascinates us. When I stop by this blog every few weeks, I feel the same way.

We've all long compared these times to the Titanic. But I am visiting tonight to wish the new buyout takers all the best; and the same to all who were not given that choice, as I was not. I was old enough, but didn't have enough years.

I, too, need about 5 more years of gainful employment. I now have one under my belt post-Gannett. I won't say it was easy; I thought I'd never find something. It took nearly four months after the TPP was gone. And I know I was very, very fortunate to find a job in the field in that short time without a move (although at a diminished pay).

Best to all who are still out in the cold seas. I do believe things are getting better. That won't be enough to save journalism as we knew it, but it may get us to a diminished early retirement.

I wonder what kind of drivel we're going to hear from Gracia tomorrow. More BS about how community news is the future and WE are the Community, this days after they forced out hundreds of long-timers who ARE a big part of the communities where they've worked for 20+ years. Think I'll have to be out of the office.

Calling your target audience a bunch of unthinking, uneducated hicks is not the way to make friends and influence people.http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20120415/OPINION/204150319/Bill-Decker-science-non-science-changing-LafayetteMy brother is now letting The Advertiser claim a reduction in the use of newsprint.

Betty Beard wrote a great column in the print edition of this morning's Arizona Republic "Economy Gives Weary Reporter Parting Gift". Can't find it anywhere on the arizonacentral.com site but it posted here: http://www.usatoday.com/USCP/PNI/Business/2012-04-15-PNI0415biz-insider-beard-PNIBrd_ST_U.htm

She retires on Friday after 43 years as a reporter in Arizona. Reception for Betty and the other EROP folks is at the Sheraton in downton Phoenix on Friday afternoon.

The Journal News and lohud with a pay wall and multi-platforms, what a joke. They can't even get the website right and they will have an app and website that you will have to pay for. I guess the NEWSDAY app commercials caused them to wake up.

How ironic that it's announced on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic because this plan will sink faster than that ship.

Here's the words from her EROP letter "At this time we are offering this program instead of pursuing other cost management actions but we cannot rule out other actions in the future."

At many sites, all offers in many departments were being accepted. This was clearly outlined in the EROP documents.

The question is, if she hadn't gotten the EROP offer, would she be working next week or is this the week she would have chosen to retire?

While managers stressed "this is voluntary", most people I know felt it wasn't really a choice but it was better to accept the buyout than face being let go soon and receive nothing for their long careers.

As for "trimming the fat," that is the most offensive remark yet. Why would anyone want to claim that, in all this misery, this disaster? Cleary, a flaming Jerk. Yet and still. So nice. So ... I dunno, so Easter like.

The Journal News farewell gathering for five longtime newsroom employees the other night was a clear indication that not only is the Titanic sinking, but even the band has taken to the last remaining lifeboat. Nobody left to play music to disguise the fact that we are officially doomed.

Don't twist this into a bash on management, 12:51. Although there are numerous managers with no value today, I was talking about the many, many workers who haven't done much to earn a paycheck for quite a while.

Jim says: "Proceed with caution; this is a free-for-all comment zone. I try to correct or clarify incorrect information. But I can't catch everything. Please keep your posts focused on Gannett and media-related subjects. Note that I occasionally review comments in advance, to reject inappropriate ones. And I ignore hostile posters, and recommend you do, too."